Team Fortress 2 Beta Impressions

What about the maps?

Team Fortress 2 will ship with only six maps, but Valve has promised more in future updates – going on past experience with Counter-strike: Source and Day of Defeat: Source, we can expect a few updates then. Potentially more important though is the fact that the community is likely to create, or recreate many more maps.

Only one of the included maps is a capture the flag map, while all of the others use a control point style of gameplay. Depending on the map’s objective, the control point style of gameplay involves either capturing several areas with one team attacking and the other defending, or a tug-of-war style capture and hold scenario where you’re both attacking and defending.

The layout of each map is simple but well thought out, just like they were in the original game, but where applicable are obviously updated to fit in with the slightly modified gameplay style. There are some other inclusions that help to spice things up a little too, like one map which features a railway line. If you happen to be standing on the railway line when the express train comes past, you’ll unsurprisingly find yourself waiting to respawn.

2Fort, which has been ported from TFC, is the only capture the flag map - or should that be capture the intelligence? You see, Valve has decided that instead of capturing a flag, you need to rescue a briefcase that’s hidden in the bowls of each team’s base.


The map’s layout has remained faithful to the original for the hardcore, but there have been some changes made where Valve felt it was appropriate. The bridge for example, now has a roof providing some shelter for players traversing the gap between bases. However, it also means that Scouts can use their double jump to reach the opposing team’s battlement without having to pass through the inevitably turret-filled main base and offer a swift dispatch to any Sniper practising his aim – if that same sharpshooter doesn't dispatch his assailant first.

This is the kind of tit-for-tat combat that is a feature of every round, on every map, in every game of Team Fortress 2. While the Battlefield series did a fine job of transferring team-based combat to the large scale, TF2 brings it back to its roots and it does so in an accessible manner without making the game feel like it’s been dumbed-down. It pulls it off with such flair and panache that, even after a week of near-constant play, I still find something new every time I play that has me chucking to myself in wonderment and awe.

The look and style of TF2 plays a huge part in this. Not only has the developer clearly spent a huge amount of time perfecting the functional elements of the game, but it has managed to find time to make it fun as well. Little touches like the way Spies wear paper masks when disguised, or the addition of several taunts for each class add that sense of character that so many games these days lack.


Graphically, as well, the game is just on another level to its contemporaries. As already mentioned, the game isn't designed to be realistic, but rather uses a mix of cel-shading (well, actually phong shading – Ed.) and various engine tweaks created by Valve’s dev team to create environments and models that are incredibly polished. Even effects like motion blur are implemented exquisitely, giving the sensation of speed and movement, but without inducing nausea after five minutes of play like we’ve found with some games recently.

Let's not forget though that this is a Beta we're talking about and that the dev team still has time to iron out the few wrinkles that do crop up from time to time (namely the occasional crash to desktop). TF2 will also be coming down the tubes through Valve’s infamous content delivery system, so updates should be quick and seamless.

I could continue writing about the marvels of TF2 for days, or even weeks (perhaps you should start a bit-tech fan club? – Ed.). Instead though, I will confine myself to stating that while Crysis may have left us speechless with its graphical prowess, TF2 seems, to me at least, a refreshing break from the norm of multiplayer first-person shooters.

I simply can’t wait for the full release and the influx of thousands more noobs ready to succumb to my baseball bat of doom. Muwhahaha!!